WEBSTER

Lieutenant Robert Webster (1619-1677)
of Hartford, Connecticut

Will of Robert Webster Will of Susannah (Treat) Webster

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ROBERT WEBSTER is the great-great grandfather of Noah WEBSTER,
the person who wrote the dictionary ®137

The Webster Genealogy
From History & Genealogy of the Gov. John Webster Family of CT, 1915

Lieut. Robert WEBSTER of Middletown, Conn., a son of Gov. John and Agnes Webster, said by Joel Munsell and Sons to have been born in 1627, m. in 1652, Susannah Treat, b. 1629, dau. of Richard Treat, Esq., and Joanna, his wife, of Wethersfield, Conn. Richard Treat and Joanna his wife came to America in an early day and brought part of their family with them. They were among the first settlers of Wethersfield, and their son, Hon. Robert Treat, was the eighth Governor of Connecticut, serving fifteen years, beginning, 1683.

A writer in the Hartford Times of March 13, 1913, declares that Susannah Treat who m. Lieut. Robert Webster, was bap. in Pitminster, England, October 8, 1629, and was the daughter of Richard Treat and Alice Gaylord. The name was earlier spelled, Trett, Trot, etc. Goodwin recites the Will of Richard Treat in which a bequest is made to "my loving wife Alis Treat," showing that Mr. Goodwin was aware of wife Alice, but the eight children are given as belonging to the first wife, Joan, or Joanna. Stiles and Gaylord, however, agree that Richard m. in England, April 27, 1615, Alice dau. of Hugh Gaylord, and that Susannah who m. Lieut. Robert Webster was the daughter of Alice Gaylord Treat.

Lieut. Robert Webster was a man of ability and served the community in many ways. He settled in Middletown and upon the organization of the town in September, 1651, was chosen Recorder. Coincident with this was his marriage in 1652 and his settlement in Middletown Upper Houses where four of his children were born. He represented Middletown in the General Court from September 1653 to May 1655; from May to October, 1656; in October 1657, and October 1658, at which time he returned to Hartford. Some of his activities will be seen in the following excerpts from various public records.

1654: "At a General Court of Elections held 18th May, 1654, Robert Webster was confirmed as a Lieutenant in Middletown for the ensuing year, according to the motion of the Town."

1654: "At a session of the General Court held in Hartford, Oct. 3, 1654, appeared among the Deputies, Robert Webster, who was appointed as one of the Committee for Middletown to press men and necessaries for the Narragansett expedition."

1656: "At a General Court called by the Governor and Magistraty, February 26, 1656, Robert Webster was present as a Deputy, and was appointed on a committee to give advice to the Indians, and was confirmed as Recorder of the Towne of Middletown, according to their desire."

During his Hartford residence his name appears in the following important relations.

1662-3: January 25, Robert Webster was one of a jury who tried and convicted Nathaniel and Rebecca Greensmith, and they were executed.

1669: February 12, the Second Church of Hartford was set off as a distinct organization from the original First Church, and in a list of fifteen brethren in full communion appears the name of Robert Webster.

1669: In a list of freemen "on ye South side of Hartford," dated October, 1669, appears the name of Mr. Robert Webster.

1672: May 9. The Court of Elections of Hartford granted to "Leiftenant" Robert Webster 300 acres of land, provided he took it up where it would not prejudice any former grant.

1673: In October the General Court sitting in Hartford ordered a survey of lands at Mattatock on the Mallatock (Naugatuck) River, and appointed as a committee, Lieut. Thomas Bull, Lieut. Robert Webster and Daniel Pratt.

1674: April 6, 7, 8, 9 was the date of a report from the above Committee on the result of their survey, and among other things stated that the place "may accommodate thirty families." The court afterwards appointed Maj. John Talcott, Lieut. Robert Webster, Lieut. Nicholas Olmstead, Ensign Samuel Steel, Ensign John Wadsworth, a Committee to regulate and order setting off a plantation at Mattatuck. "This Committee," says a local historian (Waterbury, by Bronson, 1858) "was composed of men of note, who bore honorable names well known in the history of the Colony." Of Lieut. Webster he says, "He was a respectable man though not distinguished like his father. His son Jonathan m. a sister of John Hopkins, an early settler of Mattatuck." (Waterbury.)

1675: October 11, at a meeting of the Council "Leiftenant" Robert Webster was appointed on a Committee to arrange certain defenses of the towne.

The last-named date suggests King Philip's war. June 20 of that year the Indians had attacked Swanzy; Aug. 2, Brookfield; Aug. 25, Hatfield; Sep. 1, Deerfield and Hadley; Sep. 2, Northfield; Sep. 4, Capt. Beers at Bloody Brook; Oct. 5, Springfield. Clearly the savages were drawing near to Hartford, and Oct. 11, as shown in the above paragraph, Lieut. Robert Webster and others were appointed a Committee of Safety.

How far he was drawn into the conflict is not easily determined now, but Savage says he was "on service in the war of 1675." This, is further shown by the fact that on the 22d of May, 1712, at a meeting of the Governor and Council at Hartford, the payment of certain sums to soldiers whose accounts had not previously been settled on account of uncertainty as to length of service, was ordered, and among them, "To Robert Webster of Hartford, 2 pounds, 13 shillings, and 6 pence."

Lieut. Robert Webster died about May 31, 1676. He was buried June 2, 1676. His Will, dated May 20, 1676, was made about 10 days before his death. His estate was valued at 670 pounds. The Will is as follows:

Whereas, I, Robert Webster of Hartford, am at present under the holy hand of God and brought very weake by sickness, yet not, through mercy, destitute of my understanding, doe see cause to sett my house in order, and doe declare this to be my will and testament as followeth -- first I commend my soule to God in Jesus Christ, hoping for the pardon of all my sins through the meritts of Jesus Christ my Saviour, and my Body to the earth, hoping for a glorious resurrection. And for that estate which God hath blessed me with all I give and bequeath it as followeth; after my just debts are honestly pay'd out of my estate. The remainder of my estate I give unto my dear and well beloved wife, Susannah Webster during her widowhood, not doubting but she will have a tender care of our children and will help them as she is able. But if my wife change her name then I give her but one third part of my aforesay'd estate. The remainder being to bee equally divided amongst my children excepting my eldest a double portion and if any of my children dye before they come at age, that is to say my sonns at the age of twenty-one years and my daughters eighteen years of age, my will is that it be equally divided amongst those that shall survive, also I desire my wife to be careful in bringing up our children in the knowledge and feare of the Lord and I do heare charge and command my children that they carry it dutiful to their mother, and that they labour to know and feare the God of their fathers, and that they serve him with willing heart and minde, that hemay bee with them and bless them, when I am gathered to my fathers. I do also appoynt my loving wife to be sole executrix to this my last will and that she may have some refuge to repayre unto for councill as any occasion may call for either about my estate or dispose of my children; I doe desire my loving Friend John Coale Sr. and Andrew Benton Sr. and John Blackleach of Hartford to be overseers of this my will and testament and for confirmation of the same I hereunto set my hand and Seale.

Robert Webster and a Seal
'This 20th day of May 1676
Testes Thomas Steadman, Phineas Wilson

Susannah (Treat) Webster

As seen by the foregoing Will, Susannah Treat Webster, the widow, was given sole charge of the estate, and care of the family. Right well did she perform her task. She outlived her husband twenty-nine years. A clause in her out will shows that the estate which she received was not unencumbered, and in recognition of the co-operation of her children in relieving the situation, special bequests were made, "which legacy or devise I make to them especially in consideration of their prudence, industry and help in paying the debts of my husband, Robert Webster, their father above-named, and saving the Estate."

May 8, 1684, she was permitted by the Court of Elections, as Executrix of "Lieftenant" Robert Webster's Will to sell certain lands, provided she took advice of her two eldest sons and Stephen Hosmore.

The following is of interest and should be preserved in connection with the history of Robert Webster's estate.

1706, John Prents, surveyor of a tract of land for the heirs of Robert Webster, April 25, 1706, says: "By virtue of a grant of land of 300 acres unto Robert Webster, of Hartford, by the General Assembly, May the 9, 1672, I have laid out the same in the Nipmug country on the E. side of Quenabaug river, Southeast from Woodstock, as follows: about five miles and adjoining to Richard Evan's farm, I began it on the East side of a barren hill in sight of Richard Evan's house, at a heap of stones and ran nor-nor-west. There is a highway allowed between said Evan's land and Webster of two rods wide."

Susannah Webster died in 1705, probably late in the summer, or early in the autumn, as an inventory of her estate made by John Marsh, and John Marsh, Jr., was dated Nov. 19, 1705. It showed a value of 32 pounds, 3 shillings, 3 pence. Seven years before her death she made the following Will:

"In the Name of God, Amen, the three and twentieth day of January in the year of Our Lord One Thousand, Six Hundred Ninety and eighth, in the tenth year of the Reign of our Souverigne Lord William the third, by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the faith, &c.

"I, Susannah Webster, of the town of Hartford, widow (sole executrix to the last will and testament of my honored husband, Robert Webster, deceased) doe now make and ordain this to be my last will and testament: and touching the dist. of both that estate of my deceased husband, Robert Webster, and of those temporal goods and estate which God hath blessed me withal, my will is that the same be dist. and disposed of as follows:

"I give to my five sons, Jonathan, Samuel, Robert, Joseph, and William Webster, and to the now surviving children of my eldest son, John Webster, deceased (to-wit: John, Ebenezer, Jacob, Daniel, Sarah, Ann and Abigail) the full sum of £100 in current silver money of New England (being so much as was given me by my good friend John Hull of Boston, decd.) their several parts of which sum is and shall be reckoned as included in the lands hereinafter to them respectively assigned, which legacy or devise I make to them especially in consideration of the prudence, industry and help in paying the debts of my husband Robert Webster, their father above-named, and saving the estate.

"I give to my above-named grandchildren, John, Ebenezer, Jacob, Daniel, Sarah, Ann and Abigail Webster, in right of their father, my deceased son John Webster, all that capitol, messuage, tenement, barn, outhouses and 8 acres of land (being part of the homelot of my deceased husband).

"I give to Jonathan Webster 8 acres of my home lot with his dwelling house, barn, outhouses and appurtenances.

"I give to Samuel Webster, my son, 8 acres of my home lot with his dwelling house and outhouses and appurtenances thereto belonging.

"I give to my son Robert Webster, my lands situated below Rocky Hill, about 40 acres, on which his dwelling house now standeth, with his house, outhouses and all their appurtenances.

"I give to my son Joseph Webster, 15 acres of my lot on land called the Plaine.

"I give to my son William Webster, 15 acres of my lott or land called the Plaine.

"I give to my daughter Sarah Mygatt (she having already received her portion of her father's estate) 12 pence.

"I give to my two granddaughters, Mabel and Elizabeth Grave, daughters of my deceased daughter Susannah Grave, late wife of John Grave, to make the full sum of £32.

"I give to my daughter Mary King, the wife of Thomas King, with what she has already received, £32.

"I give to my daughter, Elizabeth Seamore, the wife of John Seamore, besides what I have already given her, £32.

"I appoint my five sons to be joint executors.

Susannah Webster (Her X Mark)

Witnesses: Caleb Stanley, Samuel Richards

From History & Genealogy of the Gov. John Webster Family of CT, 1915, Pg. 30

Anne Webster, daughter of Gov. John and Agnes Webster, m. about 1642, John Marsh of Hadley. John Marsh was born, April, 1618 in England and came to America in the "Mary and John" and settled in Hartford in 1636 as one of the original proprietors. He separated from the First Church, Hartford, with others in 1659, and removed to Hadley. Thence he changed to Northampton where June 9, 1662, his wife, Anne Webster died. He m. (2) Oct. 7, 1664, Hepzibah, widow of Richard Lyman of Northampton, and dau. of Thomas Ford of Windsor, CT, where Sep. 28, 1688, John Marsh died.

CHILDREN: (1st m.: baptisms, First Church, Hartford.) John; Joseph, bap. Jan. 24, 1647, died soon after; Joseph, bap. July 15, 1649; Samuel; Jonathan; Daniel; Hannah; Grace. (2d m.) Lydia b. Oct. 9, 1667; Sarah.

From History & Genealogy of the Gov. John Webster Family of CT, 1915, Pg. 36-37

Joseph Webster, of Hartford, mar. (1) Feb 23, 1696, Mary Judd, b. 1675, dau. of Benjamin and Mary (Lewis) Judd of Farmington. Her sister Esther, born 1686, on March 7, 1702, chose Joseph Webster to be her guardian. Hence the inference is that his first wife was Mary Judd, dau. of Benjamin. Date of her death unknown. He mar. (2) Hannah, widow of Basey Baker, deceased, of Middletown, formerly of Hartford, May 11, 1726. She was the dau. of Nathaniel Willett of Hartford. Her death not recorded, but he died in May, 1750.

March 16, 1711-12, Joseph and Mary Webster, his wife, joined the church. Jan. 2, 1719, Jos. Webster of Hartford buys of Jas. Lewis of Jamaica, L.I., a land right in town grant of Farmington.

The General Assembly, May 9, 1717, in describing land lying in South Meadow, Hartford, bounded it W. by lands of Joseph Webster, and the heirs of Nathaniel Cole.

By Will, dated March 3, 1750, Joseph Webster gave to his wife Hannah, his dau. Mary Kellogg, his dau. Elizabeth Waters, and appointed his son-in-law, Isaac Kellogg, executor. Inventory taken, May 2, 1750.

Record of Probate Court, Hartford, Sep. 1, 1788: "Whereas Joseph Webster of Hartford, deceased, by his last Will gave to his daughter Elizabeth Waters his home lot in the South meadow and said Elizabeth being now dead, Joseph Waters, son of Joseph Waters, and grandson of said Elizabeth moves for a distribution to the following heirs of Webster Waters, deceased: eldest son of Elizabeth, a double share; also to Abraham Waters, and heirs of Joseph Waters, sons of said Elizabeth."

CHILDREN: (Both by first mar.) Mary, b. May 31, 1697, bap. June 4, following; Elizabeth, b. March 6, 1700, bap. March 10.

From History & Genealogy of the Gov. John Webster Family of CT, 1915, Pg. 55 (Sec. 4 Children of Joseph and Mary (Judd) Webster of Hartford, CT)

Mary Webster, b. May 31, 1697, and bap. June 6, same year m. at Hartford, Dec. 26, 1717, Isaac Kellogg, of Hartford, b. Jan. 17,1697, son of Deacon Samuel Kellogg of West Hartford, and grandson of Lieut. Joseph Kellogg, of Hadley, Mass.

He represented New Hartford in the Conn. Legislature twenty-three times; was Justice of the Peace, and a Deacon in the Church.

Clara Louisa Kellogg, the noted songstress, is a descendant of this Isaac Kellogg.

He d. July 3, 1787 at 90 yrs. and she, Jan. 3, 1780 at 82 yrs.

CHILDREN: (Kellogg) Samuel, Nov. 15, 1718; Abraham, Jan. 17, 1720-1; Mary, March 12, 1723; Theodosia, June 7, 1724-5; Isaac, Oct. 8, 1727; Noah, Dec. 13, 1729; Joseph, Oct. 14, 1731; Ashbel, Oct. 18, 1732; Sarah, Feb. 16, 1735; Margaret, June 12, 1737; Ann and Esther, twins, Aug. 21, 1739; Huldah, March 30, 1742.

From History & Genealogy of the Gov. John Webster Family of CT, 1915, Pg. 55

Theodosia Kellogg (daughter of Isaac & Mary (Webster) Kellogg) born June 7, 1725, mar. April 4, 1745, Jonathan Marsh, a carpenter of New Hartford, CT. They had four children. His grandfather, John Marsh, of Hartford, CT, or Hadley, MA, mar. Anne, daughter of Gov. John Webster.